Chapter 386: Chapter 386

“A true inheritance of the ancient Talismanic Daoist Branch…”

Yuan Mobai looked up in contemplation, saying nothing.

Lei Jun exchanged a glance with Wang Guiyuan.

Wang Guiyuan gave a small shake of his head, indicating he didn’t know much more either.

From the information previously relayed by Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen, the people of the Tianshi Mansion in Tang Dynasty Mortal Realm had already learned the rough state of Penglai.

Although Penglai was currently saturated with Spiritual Energy, it had likely suffered a great catastrophe in the past. The people residing there now were not long-time descendants but rather outsiders who had entered via chance encounters and unique opportunities.

Whether Huang Xuanpu or others, all had found their way into Penglai from the outside world.

There remained fragments of ancient Daoist legacies and even rare treasures, which they then used to return to the mortal world and establish Daoist Nations, clearly borrowing from that power.

Yet, currently, there were no orthodox ancient Talismanic Branch inheritances or practitioners left in Penglai.

But whether the Han Mortal Realm was connected to Penglai remained uncertain.

“According to what my junior niece Yuanzhen said, the Western White Emperor can now be confirmed as the head of the Shushan Sect from the Ming Mortal Realm,” Yuan Mobai spoke gently, his tone once more calm and amiable. “Her name is Han Qingtao, born into the Ming imperial clan.”

Lei Jun, Wang Guiyuan, and Chu Kun all nodded. Their expressions showed little surprise.

They had already suspected it to some extent.

After all, someone at the Fourth Layer of the Ninth Heaven, a Great Ascension Realm Artifact Refining Sect cultivator, held immense weight.

And in the Ming Mortal Realm, where Neo-Confucianism overwhelmingly dominated and suppressed Buddhism and Daoism—perhaps even more harshly than the Tang—it was easy for ambitious thoughts to arise.

Han Qingtao’s background was also unique.

It was somewhat ironic to Lei Jun, since the Ming imperial family bore the surname Han.

He recalled what Nie Fang had once told him: back when the founding emperor of Ming had not yet secured his rule and was fighting against the previous Qian Dynasty, he had self-proclaimed as the King of Ming…

“According to Nie Daoyou from Xuanji Monastery, the only Daoist branch currently doing slightly well in the Ming Mortal Realm is the True Martial Monastery of the Daoist Alchemical Sect,” said Chu Kun.

“It’s said that during the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the Ancestor of True Martial Monastery greatly aided the Ming King, earning merit. Later, during imperial succession, they supported the current emperor. Thus, the Alchemical Sect inheritance fares better than the Talismanic and Artifact Refining Sects?”

“More or less,” Yuan Mobai replied. “But relatively speaking, the Neo-Confucianists still rule. True Martial Monastery has it slightly easier. The Shushan Sect, home of the Artifact Refining Sect, has a difficult time. As for our Talismanic Branch, our lineage is nearly extinct.”

Han Qingtao, as a noblewoman of the Ming imperial family, rose to the position of head of Shushan Sect not only because of her talent and cultivation—her background certainly helped.

In contrast, over here in the Tang Realm, someone like the late Elder Zhang Dongyuan of Shushan never stood a chance at becoming sect leader, nor did he expect to.

Back when Shushan suffered a massive civil war and split, its vitality was severely damaged.

Zhang Dongyuan remained the last Eighth-Heaven Sword Cultivator after Chen Donglou left and Wei Qiyue and Wang Dongchu defected, holding the treasured Azure Abyss Sword.

Even so, the new head was chosen from the next generation—Zhang Taigang.

But the Ming Realm and the Tang Realm had different environments.

“Over there, Neo-Confucian cultivators are deeply intertwined with the fate of the Ming Dynasty. Their power suppresses other cultivation paths to varying degrees,” Lei Jun explained. “As a Daoist sect relying on external artifacts, Shushan Sect faces comparatively fewer limitations.”

The Artifact Refining Sect, also known as the External Alchemy Sect, relied on external tools and resources.

In actual combat, it was ironically less restricted by the ritual systems of Neo-Confucianism.

Nie Fang, who practiced Artificer Techniques, was in a similar situation.

“But that also means we’re easily targeted by Neo-Confucians, right?” Chu Kun speculated.

That made Han Qingtao’s rise to leadership of Shushan Sect even more significant.

“But now, she can no longer remain in the Ming Mortal Realm,” said Wang Guiyuan. “Senior Sister publicly exposed her identity as the Western White Emperor, along with her efforts to secretly establish a Daoist Nation. The Ming court has now declared her a wanted criminal.”

“Even the head of the True Martial Monastery, said to be the Ming Realm’s top Daoist cultivator, has come forth personally to assist in capturing her and other members of the Daoist Nation,” he added.

“Just like what happened with Huang Xuanpu, pulling one thread moved the entire web,” said Lei Jun.

“The Ming Dynasty is also in chaos now,” said Wang Guiyuan, “but they still have strong foundations.”

Lei Jun nodded slightly.

From his previous contact with Xu Yuanzhen, he’d learned that the Ming Mortal Realm had a history about 2,400 years longer than the Tang Realm.

Although Spiritual Energy revival didn’t happen much earlier, it still preceded Tang by several hundred years.

Shortly after the Ming Dynasty’s founding, spiritual energy surged, connecting some of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths with the Ming Realm.

Thus, the Lesser Emperor once retreated to Guizang, renamed it Tianli, and began anew.

Although the Ming Realm had seen its share of troubles, its accumulated power was formidable.

However, Neo-Confucianism dominated, and many royal offspring were educated under its system.

“I recall Shangnan from the Daoist Nation mentioning that the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru also exists in the Ming Realm,” Lei Jun said.

“He mentioned the Karma Division, also known as the Karmic Division.”

Wang Guiyuan nodded. “Yes, Senior Sister said the Karma Division is indeed present in the Ming Realm.

But like the rest, they’re suppressed by the Neo-Confucians, unable to develop within Ming territory.

So, for the past hundred years, they’ve allied with northern tribes and flourished outside of Ming’s borders, especially in the Western Regions, grasslands, and snowy plains, becoming a major external threat.”

When the Ming Dynasty was founded, it overthrew the Qian Dynasty, expelling the northern tribes.

But over time, those tribes had grown again and were now pushing south.

The Karma Division’s cooperation with them allowed mutual support, and they now eyed the central plains.

Just last year, the Vajra Division led the Lone Eagle Khanate to invade the Tang Realm, causing great harm.

So any news about the Karma Division from the Ming Realm left Lei Jun and the others with a complicated mood.

“When Yuanzhen returned, she said most of the Southern Wasteland had already become part of the Ming Realm,” said Yuan Mobai.

“Only near the Southern Sea Shore do some Witch Sect cultivators remain, but even that area was once connected to another realm, and the Void Gateway has since closed.”

“Do we know which realm?” Lei Jun asked.

“No,” said Yuan Mobai. “She was investigating it. So far, rumors say the ones who came through were martial cultivators, not northern nomads.”

Lei Jun raised his brows. “Oh? No wonder Senior Sister is interested—I’m curious too.”

If they were martial cultivators, and not nomadic tribes, then they likely weren’t from the Song Realm or the Khanate Realm.

Given the known realms, it didn’t sound like the Han Realm either—certainly not the Tang Realm.

“At least that Void Gateway near Ming’s southern coast is sealed for now,” said Yuan Mobai.

“For the Ming Dynasty, the external threats come mainly from the north and the east. The north has the tribes and Karma Division. The east—well, that’s another matter altogether.”

“It’s said a gateway over the sea opened to one of the Ten Earths, known as Guixu.”

Lei Jun silently nodded.

Guixu, one of the Ten Earths, alongside the Land of the Deep Sea, Yellow Springs, Luoyuan, and Avīci.

Legend says it is where the flows of creation return—filled with dense Spiritual Energy, yet also with dreadful malevolent aura.

A bottomless abyss that devours all.

Though the Ming Realm was facing threats, it still held strong.

Its strengths and weaknesses now mirrored the Lesser Ming Dynasty almost perfectly—except that the Ming Realm was grounded in the true mortal world, unlike the Lesser Ming, which existed in the unstable realm of Guizang.

But whether it could hold steady remained to be seen.

After some conversation, Wang Guiyuan pondered for a moment and asked Lei Jun,

“Sect Master, does His Majesty have a concrete plan for the empire’s future direction?”

“There doesn’t appear to be an aggressive, expansionist posture—no signs of launching wars on all fronts.

But His Majesty is indeed paying attention to Datong.”

“Understandable,” Wang Guiyuan nodded.

“The matters involving the Lin Clan of Youzhou and the Fang Clan of Jingxiang have already entangled karmic threads.”

The key lies in what happens next.

The Empress has given the world a chance, and a Golden Age has arrived.

With the current surge of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, the timing is ideal.

But if internal conditions cannot sustain development, people may begin looking outward for solutions.

When that time comes, countless changes may unfold.

Lei Jun looked toward Wang Guiyuan and asked,

“Senior Brother, are you concerned that if the empire turns outward, the momentum might snowball, becoming uncontrollable?”

“Personally, I’m more hopeful about your current cooperative initiatives with the Shushan Sect, Xuanji Monastery, and our Daoist peers.”

“Everything’s still manageable for now. But if I have a long-term concern, it lies elsewhere.”

Wang Guiyuan replied with understanding,

“…You’re wondering whether the various split mortal realms since the end of the Han Dynasty might one day reconnect?”

Lei Jun nodded silently.

Off to the side, Chu Kun took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

Yuan Mobai maintained a warm smile as he looked at the three of them.

“Whatever path you choose, you’ve done well so far—just keep going.

For those like us, acting in harmony with Heaven and resonating with humanity, there’s no need to force anything.”

“Yes, Master,” the three replied in unison, “we will follow your teachings.”

Yuan Mobai gently shook his head with a smile.

“Let us encourage each other—your Master walks the same path.”

Lei Jun rose and bowed.

“Since Master and Senior Brother have returned to the mountain, allow me to leave for a while.

Later, I’ll return with Senior Sister. Let’s use Eastern Sea as our meeting place again.”

Both Yuan Mobai and Wang Guiyuan chuckled and shook their heads.

“You sure are self-aware.”

Tang Xiaotang hadn’t gone to the Ming Realm. She had her heart set on returning to the Tang Realm.

Aside from her interest in the Voidbreaking Primordial Stone, what intrigued her most was—

Lei Jun had ascended to the Ninth Heaven Realm.

Though the two of them shared deep bonds, like Xu Yuanzhen, Lei Jun was also someone Tang Xiaotang wanted to challenge.

Rather than wait for her to come to him, Lei Jun figured he’d simply go to Eastern Sea and wait.

Not that he minded—it was quite the opposite.

He, too, was looking forward to it.

“I’m also eager to trade moves with Senior Sister,” Lei Jun said, “and have a good sparring session.”

“Sect Master, let me watch and help stabilize the tsunami you two are bound to cause.”

“Let’s go,” said Lei Jun.

The two left the mountain quietly, heading for the overseas region.

Once Tang Xiaotang got the message, she arrived in high spirits.

“You could’ve told me earlier! I could’ve fought you first, then gone to Luoyang. Now I have to retrace my steps!” she complained.

Lei Jun replied with a smirk,

“The whole point was to get you flustered while I stay calm. Tactics—it’s all tactics.”

Tang Xiaotang wasn’t angry. Instead, she laughed.

“Oh? So serious—I like it.”

“Now that you’ve reached Ninth Heaven, have you started cultivating your new Life-bound Divine Ability?”

“Not yet, but I’ve got a plan.

My next Life-bound Divine Ability will likely be based on your Divine Firmament Pure Yang Talisman, to cultivate the Pure Yang Thunder Dragon.”

He always enjoyed studying all kinds of mystical arts and abilities, but he wasn’t obsessed with inventing everything himself.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have mastered all three main talismanic canons of Mount Longhu—Heaven, Earth, and Man.

When it came to constructing battle frameworks, he had his own approach.

Be it inherited or self-created, all methods could become part of his arsenal.

Tang Xiaotang narrowed her eyes.

“So you plan to use your Two-Element Celestial Physique and natural insight, rely on my Pure Yang Thunder Dragon, and then merge it with your own Yin Thunder Dragon—creating a new Pure Yin Thunder Law?”

Lei Jun admitted openly,

My Yin Thunder Dragon is dark and dangerous—powerful enough.

Under my control, it can take a balanced form.

But once it leaves me, it’s less stable.

So I’m considering refining a new Pure Yin Thunder Law to balance the contrast between direct and unorthodox forces.”

Tang Xiaotang didn’t object.

Golden lightning flickered around her as she instantly condensed a Divine Firmament Pure Yang Talisman.

“Then let’s spar again after you master your new technique.”

Lei Jun said, “Senior Sister, there’s no need to hold back. Haven’t you also yet to refine the Voidbreaking Primordial Stone and Primal Yin Soul Essence?

We’re fellow disciples—sparring and exchanging pointers is something we can do anytime, so long as we mind the occasion and its impact.”

Tang Xiaotang laughed aloud. “Fair point.”

Lei Jun added, “By the way, Senior Sister mentioned that during her trip through Penglai to the Ming Realm, she managed to upgrade her Sacred Physique to a Celestial Physique. She only mentioned it in passing—I didn’t get to ask. What type of Celestial Physique was it?”

Tang Xiaotang smiled, “Cosmic Celestial Physique.”

Lei Jun pondered, “Not the Chrono-Illumination Celestial Physique, huh? But if it goes further, it should all lead to…”

“Primordial Dao Body,” they said in unison.

The tall woman curled her lip. “She can take her time. I’ll definitely beat her to it. Before she upgrades her bone structure again, I’ll perfect my Natural Comprehension!”

Lei Jun said, “Best of luck, Senior Sister. Though I’ll skip wishing you a sweeping victory.”

Tang Xiaotang grinned, “No need to wish me luck—just congratulate me when it’s over.”

Lei Jun replied, “Oh? Then allow me to congratulate you in advance on achieving Five Spirits Five Qi and stepping into the Third Layer of the Ninth Heaven. I heard from Senior Sister that she recently achieved Seven Luminescent Qi, reaching the Fourth Layer of the Ninth Heaven.”

Tang Xiaotang’s eyes widened. “You’re seriously trying to p*ss me off!”

Lei Jun answered mildly, “Strategy. All strategy.”

Tang Xiaotang was so furious she laughed. “You wish!”

As she spoke, her hair and eyebrows began to turn a light gold, and golden lightning and flames surged in her eyes, as though ready to burst out.

Lei Jun stood calmly in midair, making no overt move, but from his center radiated a cosmic expanse of star-dotted black void, spreading in all directions.

As the sole observer, Chu Kun watched from afar, seeing gold and black split across sea and sky.

“We’re still a minor realm apart,” he thought.

Around Tang Xiaotang’s body, her Pure Yang Domain unfolded. “If I unleash my Three Lights Mist, then just count it as my loss.”

Lei Jun, unfazed, responded, “Then I’m worried this will be over too soon.”

Their Great Ascension Realms clashed head-on.

The black and gold worlds struggled for dominance in the sky, their borders constantly distorting and colliding.

Both domains exerted powerful suction forces, yet neither could shake the other’s form.

However, under the strain, waves of golden Pure Yang True Fire and Pure Yang Celestial Thunder surged from the Pure Yang Domain into Lei Jun’s Xuanhuang Universe, transforming into raging tides.

Tang Xiaotang laughed heartily and surged forward, pressing into Lei Jun’s domain with her torrential sea of Pure Yang energy.

Even inside Lei Jun’s Xuanhuang Universe, the invading Pure Yang sea left him no terrain advantage.

Lei Jun remained composed, as Violet Celestial Thunder and Green Earth Fire twisted together in the void.

They both knew each other’s techniques well.

No need for tricks now—dragons roared and tigers howled as the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder and Nine Abyss True Fire spun into a purple-green Taiji Diagram.

As it rotated, the blinding light born from the Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike blasted toward Tang Xiaotang, who had just entered the Xuanhuang Universe.

She met force with force, weaving golden Pure Yang Celestial Thunder and green Nine Abyss True Fire into a gold-green Taiji Diagram, launching her own blinding counterstrike.

Though different in mana, their two ultimate arts shared the same foundation. The resulting brilliance lit up the pitch-black depths of space.

Brilliant lights clashed and canceled each other out.

They were evenly matched, neither gaining the upper hand.

“Oh?” Tang Xiaotang’s eyes gleamed.

Her Pure Yang Celestial Physique was overwhelming, its mana bold and unrelenting. Her attacks were always one tier above others at the same level.

Lei Jun’s Two-Element Celestial Physique was more fluid and adaptable, but couldn’t match the raw, frontal might of the Pure Yang type.

That they were evenly matched now was due to Lei Jun’s cultivation journey and various fortuitous encounters, which had raised his power far above his peers.

Still, Tang Xiaotang’s Pure Yang Domain released an overwhelming flood of Pure Yang Fire and Thunder, destabilizing the Xuanhuang Universe.

At the clash’s edge, Lei Jun’s domain began to falter under pressure.

To Chu Kun, it looked like the golden side of the battlefield was overtaking the black side, occupying more and more of the sky.

But Lei Jun’s expression remained steady.

Within the Xuanhuang Universe, a Yin Thunder Dragon and a Yang Fire Tiger, black and gold, emerged and converged into a black-red Taiji Diagram.

“Well played!” Tang Xiaotang cheered.

At her call, a colossal Pure Yang Divine Vessel sailed from the golden sea into the Xuanhuang Universe.

The gold-green Taiji Diagram no longer fired light beams, but sank into the ship’s depths, powering it from below.

Already massive, the vessel grew larger still, glowing with divine radiance.

Simultaneously, in Lei Jun’s starry cosmos, two Taiji Diagrams—purple-green and black-red—shone forth, blasting toward Tang Xiaotang and her ship.

The vessel took the full brunt of the dual Dragon-Tiger Strikes.

The Divine Ship trembled and stopped midair, but remained intact, only lightly rippling on the sea.

Lei Jun observed closely and saw real Dragon and Tiger forms faintly circling the glowing ship.

Indeed, his Senior Sister’s self-created techniques were becoming more refined.

The vessel could no longer be called the Pure Yang Ship—it was a true Dragon-Tiger Divine Vessel now.

Tang Xiaotang’s eyes suddenly flashed.

The golden fire in her irises faded, leaving behind a clarity that was hard to describe.

Behind the Divine Ship, inside the Pure Yang Domain, a black sphere appeared.

Ominous and opaque, it expanded rapidly—as if an independent world had emerged inside her domain.

It looked exactly like Lei Jun’s Xuanhuang Universe.

But Lei Jun’s main domain was still ahead of her, struggling against her.

“Your Xuanhuang Universe… from the Divine Court Manifestation to the Great Ascension Realm, it’s no longer just nested within itself. It’s now completely split—two separate realms?”

Tang Xiaotang looked left and right. “So you have two independent Great Ascension Domains?”

Lei Jun nodded. “Thanks to the Twin Bloom of the Grand Void Lotus you helped me find. Without it, this wouldn’t have happened.”

The second Xuanhuang Universe expanded behind her, pressing into the Pure Yang Domain, splitting and suppressing it from the rear.

With his two realms encircling her, Lei Jun flipped the battlefield.

He’d both baited her in and had no better choice.

In direct confrontation, her domain’s overpowering force was hard to match.

A single Xuanhuang Universe could only stall her—not defeat her.

But now, by dividing and surrounding, Lei Jun used their domain traits to full effect.

The second realm pulled at her and her ship like a tidal riptide.

“A surprise, huh?” Tang Xiaotang was unbothered.

Standing atop the Divine Vessel, she pointed to the sea below.

The Pure Yang Sea changed—the fiery waves condensed into solid form, like a celestial mountain.

The domain ceased expanding wildly, becoming a fortified bulwark.

Beneath the mountain, Pure Yang Fire and Thunder merged into broad rivers, carrying the Divine Vessel with them.

As the rivers meandered and flowed, the ship became nimble, swift, and elusive.

Lei Jun instantly recognized the shifting terrain—it mirrored the mountains and rivers of the Tang Realm.

Clearly, Tang Xiaotang had refined this during her tenure as State Preceptor, drawing from the mortal world’s geography.

Though not as innately gifted as Lei Jun or Xu Yuanzhen, her Clear-Tranquility Level comprehension still far surpassed most.

In a short time, her powers had evolved yet again.

No wonder she had managed to slay a Ninth-Heaven Great Shaman of the Nine Li, even under the oppressive Ghost-God Ritual Formation at the Vast Ocean.

From sea to mountain.

Her Divine Vessel transformed with the river flow—agile as light itself.

No longer trading frontal blows, she darted toward Lei Jun like a golden beam.

Tang Xiaotang changed tactics—attack speed with speed—still maintaining her aggressive style.

Lei Jun, radiant with starlight, transformed into his Destined Star Avatar, activating the Heavenly Travel Talisman.

Stars circled him in the Star Array Formation, his speed surpassing all.

The purple-green Taiji Diagram beamed again, aiming at her and her ship.

But the Divine Vessel swerved like a stream of light, dodging every blow.

Even a surprise sword light—bright and near-instantaneous—was evaded.

Tang Xiaotang had always excelled at such precision, even if she disliked using it.

Her foundational skills were flawless.

And in this instant, Lei Jun reached peak speed, leaping onto the ship.

Within his gaze, the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman flowed.

Upon boarding, a mirror-light shone from his eyes.

Above Tang Xiaotang’s head hovered a translucent image.

It was a pair of bright, clear eyes—eyes that resembled her own, but emotionless, detached.

A unique Daoist Manifestation, born from the Heavenly Heart Insight Talisman.

Empowered by this, Tang Xiaotang’s starlight flared. She too became the Destined Star Avatar, charging at Lei Jun.

In an instant, thunderous booms echoed—a barrage of strikes between two Talismanic Daoist masters, like martial artists battling across the Divine Vessel.

Their silhouettes blinked across the ship, exchanging blow after blow.

Every punch, every palm carried immense force.

But Lei Jun’s physical combat prowess was stronger.

With the Yin-Yang Thunder Dragons, he was not only powerful, but fast—faster even than Tang Xiaotang.

Now, with Yin-Yang Fire Tigers joining the fray, he alternated between speed and endurance.

Using the Destined Star Avatar as his core, the dragons and tigers cycled through him, creating ever-shifting rhythms.

With his Natural Comprehension, Lei Jun’s transitions were even sharper than hers.

Soon, he gained the upper hand, forcing Tang Xiaotang onto the defensive.

But the image of those eyes above her remained still and serene.

Every time Lei Jun’s strike threatened real harm, she responded with perfect timing.

Her physical strength lagged behind, but not her reflexes.

So while Lei Jun dominated, he couldn’t turn it into victory.

Tang Xiaotang’s agility and the ship’s fluid movement made it hard to pin her down.

Lei Jun’s sword, ever since missing its target earlier, had hovered—unable to act.

“Active search lacks the precision of my talisman,” Lei Jun muttered.

“But when it comes to preemptive crisis detection... she’s a step ahead.”

Like the finest martial master.

However, martial experts respond to tangible threats—it's hard for them to detect malicious intent that hasn’t yet turned into action.

Earlier, Lei Jun had sensed that Tang Xiaotang’s Heavenly Heart Insight Talisman could perceive killing intent born deep in one's heart.

He himself had never harbored such intent toward Tang Xiaotang.

But now, it seemed her Heavenly Heart Insight Talisman had evolved. Beyond its original capabilities, it was starting to mirror the premonitions felt by martial experts—a kind of intuitive foresight.

This development was… honestly thrilling.

Lei Jun’s attacks grew even fiercer. His figure seemed to be everywhere at once, darting across every corner of the Pure Yang Vessel.

Tang Xiaotang met him head-on. Though she was mostly defending rather than attacking, her formation never faltered.

Her mood, however, wasn’t great.

The two were locked in a deadlock.

Their mana was draining rapidly.

For Tang Xiaotang, her Pure Yang Celestial Physique allowed her to use Pure Yang Thunder and Fire Arts with heavy cost—but quick replenishment.

However, maintaining the Heavenly Heart Insight Talisman was consuming her mana at an alarming rate.

When it came to raw mana capacity, the Pure Yang Celestial Physique surpassed the Two-Element Celestial Physique.

But in terms of mana recovery speed, it fell slightly short.

She didn’t have the patience for a prolonged stalemate—and she knew well that drawn-out combat would only work against her.

The tall woman’s brows arched sharply.

Her surging mana suddenly contracted. Nine golden suns gathered around her as she took a direct hit from Lei Jun.

His punches came like lightning—one landed, then a barrage followed.

Thankfully, Tang Xiaotang had anticipated it and held her stance.

The illusory, clear twin eyes above her head faded away.

All her mana reversed course—from defense to offense.

The nine golden suns merged into the Pure Yang Vessel.

The stabilized mountains and rivers of the Dao Domain transformed again—returning to the Sea of Pure Yang.

Then, the Pure Yang Vessel sank into the golden ocean!

In that instant, Lei Jun felt a wave of déjà vu—like facing the Dead Sea's supreme yin surge from before.

But this time, it was even stronger.

…It felt more like the Yellow Springs and Wangchuan River had flooded again, as they had back at Inner Shushan.

Lei Jun hadn’t witnessed the recent upheaval of the Seven Abyss in the Dead Sea firsthand, but now he felt like the golden ocean before him had turned completely upside down.

…His Little Senior Sister had learned some bad habits.

After being pushed back to the mortal world twice—by the Yellow Springs and the Dead Sea—she’d had enough.

But she was also a prodigious genius, deeply attuned to the natural ways of the Talismanic Branch of Daoism. After repeated trials, she had started to integrate these environmental shifts into her own divine abilities.

She might’ve been rough around the edges before—but now, she had clearly begun to master it.

Thus, the Nine Suns sank the Vessel, and the Pure Yang Heavenly Tide erupted.

A terrifying tide surged outward.

Both of Lei Jun’s Great Ascension Dao Domains were struck by the golden tsunami. The “seawater” made of golden Thunder and Fire engulfed everything, threatening to burn the entire starry cosmos.

Tang Xiaotang could fight with precision—but she clearly didn’t like that style.

Lei Jun’s eyes remained calm.

He had been waiting for this very moment—when Tang Xiaotang launched a full counterattack and withdrew the Heavenly Heart Insight Talisman.

In that instant, a silent thunderclap rang out—inside Tang Xiaotang’s heart.

It felt like it came from the depths of her soul.

She trembled. Even with her resilient spirit, the shock visibly shook her.

"Where did you learn soul-based techniques?!" Tang Xiaotang blurted out.

The shock only lasted a moment.

Unlike Lei Jun—who had refined his soul through the Wangchuan Mists and Cold Flame Soulfire—Tang Xiaotang was born with the Pure Yang Celestial Physique, giving her a naturally tough soul.

She recovered quickly. A golden glow lit up deep inside her soul, radiant and clear.

The Invisible Nine Heavens Heart Thunder, stirred by the golden light, gained shape—emerging outside her body in the form of real arcs of lightning.

At the same time, the Yin-Yang Thunder Dragons that Lei Jun had infused into his Destined Star Avatar during close combat detached.

The Yang Thunder Dragon and Yin Thunder Dragon each fused with the Yin Fire Tiger and Yang Fire Tiger, recreating the Purple-Green Taiji Diagram and Black-Red Taiji Diagram.

The Dragon-Tiger Combined Strikes flashed brightly—blasting out in front of Lei Jun to block the monstrous golden tsunami.

He stabilized himself amid the chaos, refusing to retreat even half a step.

No longer conserving mana, Lei Jun now unleashed his full might.

Along with the Dragon-Tiger Strikes, a brilliant light burst from his brow.

The Yin-Yang Divine Radiance shot forth. With the tsunami already slowed, the divine light sliced a narrow channel through the crashing waves.

In that instant, two Taiyi Celestial Talismans spun in the air. Sword lights flashed—

In the blink of an eye, a sword appeared before Tang Xiaotang.

She had spent too much mana on the Heavenly Tide and couldn’t recover in time.

Seeing the tides part, she clicked her tongue and dodged while fending off the Nine Heavens Heart Thunder.

The first sword was easy to avoid. But the second...

It homed in right as she shifted—predicting her movement with uncanny precision!

Mana-depleted, Tang Xiaotang was forced to call forth the Three Light Radiance formed from her Three Elixir Breaths.

This manifestation, unique to Talismanic Daoists in their Great Ascension Domains, could briefly retain someone else's spells.

Hers shone with purple thunder, storing Lei Jun’s Nine Heavens Divine Thunder.

The purple lightning now combined with her own golden Pure Yang Thunder and True Fire.

Individually, none of the forces was overwhelming.

But together, they sparked a transformation—pure yang, pure force, pure heat. A burst of Triple Yang Prosperity exploded with massive force.

Purple and gold radiance blasted outward.

The incoming sword strike didn’t stop—but its tip was knocked slightly off course, grazing past her.

Lei Jun stepped out from the parted golden sea.

Neither of them moved again.

Tang Xiaotang scanned the arcs of lightning floating near her—forced out by her resisting soul. They’d already dissipated.

But that moment of distraction was all Lei Jun needed—just as planned, and perfectly executed.

“Heavenly Thunder that affects the soul… related to the Profound Darkness Dust?” Tang Xiaotang’s mind raced. She quickly made connections:

“Don’t tell me you even fused the wonders of the Mystic Spirit Breath into the Two-Element Celestial Physique—splitting one into two, and merging two back into one?”

While adjusting his mana, Lei Jun replied, “Right now, it’s just the Profound Darkness Dust and Nine Heavens Heart Thunder. It's not only due to the Two-Element Physique, but also tied to how I once raised my comprehension using both Bilu and Yellow Springs energies.”

“You used that to predict how I’d dodge, then aimed the second sword?” she asked.

Lei Jun nodded. “If the Nine Heavens Heart Thunder could knock you out, that’d be great—but clearly, with your abilities, that wasn’t happening.”

It was one of his trump cards—meant for top martial experts.

When he’d used it on Prince Zhao Zhang Teng, who was already injured and mentally unstable, it had detonated his soul instantly.

No need for any follow-up.

Today’s match with Tang Xiaotang was a field test—and it proved effective.

Barring an opponent like Shen Qubing of equal cultivation, this move would work against nearly all Martial Saints.

The golden and black lights gradually faded.

Tang Xiaotang looked at Lei Jun, who stood at the center of two receding Great Ascension Domains, and puffed her cheeks.

“That move was your win condition. It threw me off my rhythm afterward.”

Lei Jun repeated his earlier line, “Thanks again for finding me the Tai Xu Twin-Lotus.”

Tang Xiaotang turned and walked off.

Lei Jun followed behind. “Senior Sister, don’t forget—the Divine Firmament Pure Yang Talisman!”